Patton: Woodford followed 11th Region's recent state success

HENDERSON, Ky. - As we wait for the NBA playoffs to grind to an end, here's a few notes to mull over.

Another for the 11th

While praising the play of Woodford County following last Saturday's state championship game, Henderson County coach Nathan Isenberg made this observation: "They play in the toughest region in the state," he said.

History would back that up. The Yellowjackets became the seventh team from the 11th Region to win the state title in the past 14 years, joining Lexington Catholic with three crowns, Dunbar with two and Lexington Christian with one.

For comparison's sake, Christian County and Henderson County are the only schools in the Second Region ever to win the state baseball title. Christian won it in 2004 and Henderson in 2000.

Baseball card heroes

Baseball cards were a big deal when I was a kid. I probably spent more hours with my baseball cards than anything else I owned. What else was a kid supposed to do? We didn't have cable TV, much less video games.

I still have my baseball card collection that dates back to the early '70s. At last week's state baseball tournament, I met one of the guys whose cards spent most of the 1980s in a Velveeta cheese box — it's amazing a block of cheese and baseball cards were exactly the same width.

Former major league infielder and Lexington native Doug Flynn was the color commentator on the KHSAA radio network for the final three rounds of the tournament. Flynn, who won a Gold Glove as a second baseman for the Mets in 1980, had an 11-year career in the majors also playing for the Reds, Rangers, Expos and Tigers.

Flynn was once part of a blockbuster trade being dealt, along with four other players, to the Mets for future Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.

While on the subject of former major leaguers, Woodford County coach Jeff Parrett, who led his team to the state title in his first season as head coach, had a 10-year career in the big leagues mostly as a relief pitcher.

Parrett, whose son Logan was the winning pitcher in the championship game with Henderson County, won 12 games for the Expos in 1988 and 12 for the Phillies the following year. Cardinal fans might remember him pitching for the Redbirds near the end of his career in 1995 and 1996. He also had brief stints with the Braves, A's and Rockies.

Parrett once was traded for one of my all-time favorite players. He was dealt to Atlanta as part of a trade that sent an aging Dale Murphy, a two-time MVP, to the Phillies in 1990.

All-staters

Blaine Alvey of Union County was a first-team all-state selection by the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association. Alvey, a senior, pitched and played outfield for the Braves.

Henderson County junior Sam Higgs made the second team. He's also a pitcher/outfielder. Henderson County junior shortstop Justin Cessna was an honorable mention selection.

Fowler: All-American

Union County's Taner Fowler, a sophomore on the University of Louisville softball team, earned third team All-American honors. Fowler, a designated player/utility player, turned in a .366 batting average with a team-high 12 home runs and 52 runs batted in as she helped the Cardinals to an impressive 55-5 record. Fowler earned Ohio Valley region and All-Big East first team honors.

Racers vs. Aces

As a Murray State grad, I like seeing Evansville back on the Racers' basketball schedule. The Aces announced this week Murray State, which likely will start the season in the top 25 after last year's 31-2 campaign, will visit the Ford Center. With the large number of Murray State alumni living in the area, these schools in comparable conferences are natural regional rivals. The programs had a terrific series, playing nine times from 1981 through 1992. The Aces held a 5-4 advantage in that era but have not won in two meetings since — in 2002 and 2011. This contest will be the return matchup for the BracketBuster game the teams played in the 2010-11 season in Murray.

Speaking of Murray State's schedule, the Racers will play in the Charleston Classic in November. The eight-team field includes Baylor, Auburn, Boston College, St. John's, Colorado, Dayton and Charleston.

Henley to Eastern

David Henley, who was one of the finalists for Henderson County's boys basketball coaching job, was hired by Louisville Eastern a couple of weeks ago. Henley, who won a state title at Covington Holmes in 2009, was 34-28 in two seasons at North Oldham.

Football already?

Can you believe it? The opening night of the high school football season is exactly two months away. Henderson County will host Evansville Reitz on Aug. 17 in the Hall of Fame Game. In case you're like me and want to plan ahead for those Friday night road trips in the fall (and maybe even get your restaurant reservations lined up well in advance), here's the remainder of the Colonels' schedule: Aug. 24, at Evansville North (and yes, it's at the new school on U.S. 41 near I-64); Aug. 31, at Christian Co.; Sept. 7, Bowling Green; Sept. 14, at Apollo; Sept. 21, Meade Co.; Oct. 5, at Daviess Co.; Oct. 12, at Marshall Co.; Oct. 19, Muhlenberg Co.; Oct. 26, Owensboro.